March 8, 2011

This wasn't anything sneaky. Remember? I blogged a couple photos Meade iPhoned from the assembly chamber just before the speech began. And this guy Abe Sauer imagines he's uncovering some kid of scandal:

What kind of special access was granted to the assembly chamber that day? How did everyone get in? Let's look at Larry Meade...

His name isn't "Larry," Abe. Abe Sauerkraut.

Meade did not have press credentials. When I asked Althouse about how he got in, she told me, "Legislators had tickets to give out, and he was given one. With a ticket, you got in for the speech."

Which legislator let Meade in? Althouse and Meade live in the University Heights area of Madison, which is represented by Brett Hulsey (D-77). Their Senator, Democrat Fred Risser, is currently in Illinois to prevent a quorum and was not the source of the pass....

Representative Hulsey's office confirmed that it did not let Meade in—what's more, that "no tickets were allotted to Rep. Hulsey."

Ann Althouse did not respond to further questions about Meade's presence in the gallery or who let him in.

Abe Sauer published that after sending me 2 emails, the first, which I answered as quoted, and the follow up, which I hadn't noticed yet in my overflowing email inbox. He makes it look like I was covering up. Meanwhile, it seems he's calling my representative's office and asking personal questions about me and Meade! That's pretty creepy.

Meade spoke to Hulsey's office yesterday, and they said they would not disclose such information about their constituents. Maybe Sauerkraut thinks it's important, newsworthy information about me and Meade. Is it? I think you'd first want to know what the procedure is for getting into a Governor's speeches and whether there's anything amiss if a legislator gives a ticket to someone outside of his district.

Sauer didn't bother to do the research before he began flinging mud shredded pickled cabbage around. Meade, however, did the research. It turns out the Governor's office controls the tickets to his speeches. That's true now, and it was true in the past when there were Democratic Governors. The Governor's office distributes some tickets directly and gives other to the majority and minority leaders of both houses, who then pass those out however they want. (If Hulsey, a freshman, didn't get any tickets, it was, I think, his own party leader's decision.) Now, the minority leader of the senate is one of the fleebaggers. So no tickets went that way. Anyway, one of the legislators who had tickets to distribute offered me 2, and I accepted the one for Meade. (I had to teach a class.)

The idea that legislators must only give tickets to their own constituents is a figment of Abe Sauer's imagination. Several legislative staff members told Meade that tickets are distributed to nonconstituents all the time and have been for years, by Democratic and Republican legislators! If Abe Sauer's made-up ethical rule were in place, that would mean that someone like me, who lives in a Democratic district but looks unfriendly to the Democratic agenda, couldn't get access. And if you were a Democrat in a Republican district, you'd have a hard time. It would be an access-restricting rule.

So: two prominent local cheerleaders of Governor Scott Walker had access to the address, without going through their Representative (who was, interestingly, provided with no tickets, in any event), while thousands of Wisconsin citizens remained locked outside. This is the sort of thing that raises questions about the extent of special access in Madison, in light of Walker's relationship with Koch Industries and the makeup of the audience in general for the budget address.

There's the conspiracy thinking tell: Koch. And if it's so interesting that Hulsey didn't get tickets, why didn't Abe Sauer try to find out why? The answer lies with the assembly minority leader, a Democrat. But why find out the fact? It's so much more exciting to take a few data points and fantasize.

The important issue isn't the proposed law in Wisconsin. It's not the massive, juvenile protests. No, it's about one man who watched a speech by the governor talking about the law that the protesters are protesting about.

Read the comments over there at the Awl. Hilarious! It really reads like a parody. "Did you or did you not eat tuna for lunch??!!" "Exactly what was the brand of tuna??!!" "Why are you concealing your answer to my question??!!"

Does The Awl have a crossword puzzle? I imagine their irate infatuation with Althouse and Meade will manifest itself for a long time. For example, "Five letter word for insufferable union-busting instigator with a f#$%ing Flip camera and iPhone and sketchy ties with legislators and the Kochs."

I went to a Space Shuttle launch a year ago. The person next to me got a ticket to the VIP area from his Congressman. No conspiracy, just asked for, and then got a ticket. I got mine as a contractor for NASA. I'm not surprised that access to the Senate gallery is available from political leaders.

Finally, if you don't like over-representation in the gallery by people on the right (or whoever you don't like); then you might petition your own representatives to be present in the chambers. Once again, an obvious difference between a quorum call and a filibuster.

I just read the comments over at the Awl and lord has Meade got them riled-up. It's hilarious. All that energy, first in writing about something that is nothing, and then in arguing about it later on when the answer would have been so easy to find. Of course, it's not an answer they wanted so, as Ann said, better to spin their wheels in muddy conspiracy theories.

The left would be a constant source of amusement if they were so damn dangerous.

This clown would really be in a twit if he knew how tickets to Presidential inaugural events were handed out.

In both the 2001 and the 2005 inauguration, I wanted VIP parade seats for both my spouse and myself. I called before I arrived in D.C. and got the tickets from my Congressman, who just happens to be on the other side of the aisle from me.

I also managed to get tickets, secured by his office, to the two biggest balls.

I must have missed the operating instructions of the blog which state Althouse has to tell you anything you demand, garbage. Frankly, I'd say that - having seen the unhinged lunatics and shrieking goons that have polluted your Capitol for lo, these many days - she's concerned (quite rightly, I would think) that naming the legislator would open him or her up to an unending stream of innuendos, smears and crank calls from "Desperately Seeking Koch" idiots like Abe Sauerkraut.

garage, if you and Abe and clavius (or whatever his handle was) want to play Connect the Imaginary Dots, Professor Althouse is under no obligation to help you. We all know you'll end up fabricating a Koch connection, no matter what she says. Just say it already: "Ann Althouse is a paid propagandist for the Koch brothers!" You know that's what you want to say, you're just looking for the excuse.

@Garage: You're right. It's a ruse. Meade actually got in with one of the Koch brothers. One sat on the other's shoulders in the classic fedora/trenchcoat/glasses-with-fake-nose-and-mustache routine. That's why Walker asks his aid six minutes into his speech:

"Now, the minority leader of the senate is one of the fleebaggers. So no tickets went that way. Anyway, one of the legislators who had tickets to distribute offered me 2, and I accepted the one for Meade. (I had to teach a class.)"

lol, okay, I'll bite. How is it that you and the legislator came into contact? Did you call him? Did he call you? Did you run into him?

Garage Mahal: No evasions, Althouse, no evasions if you please. Althouse: Evasions? What the hell are you talking about? Althouse: [whispering to Meade] What the hell is this nonsense? Meade: [covering the microphones] Althouse, I'm kind of new at this job, but I don't think it's good public relations to speak that way to Garage Mahal, even if he is an idiot. Garage Mahal: I am Garage Mahal, and I have here a list of people who are known by the Awl as being new media bloggers! Althouse: [amid shocked reaction from the crowd] What? Garage Mahal: Who nevertheless are still making up the audience of Governor Walker! Althouse: Garage who? Garage Mahal: I demand an answer, Althouse! There will be no covering up, ma'am! No covering up!

In my 55+ years of life,I cannot recall a higher level of desperation and accompanying use of dishones handling of the truth among liberals and democrats than now.

The use of Koch with absolutely NO supporting facts would be laughable if it were not written by an adult. An ADULT! How far has the IQ level of the average Democrat/liberal fallen in just the last 10 - 12 years?

Best of all, todays Democrat leaders like Rachel Maddow practice this conspiracy by dishonest use of facts everyday, continually making false arguments by associating facts that have no correlation or association with whatever subject they are discussing. They practice lives of daily dishonesty; it's harde and harder for them to grasp reality.

Deborah -- My speculation is that it's a Republican out of their district and that local politicos on both sides (1) were reading Althouse like crazy and (2) felt -- in different ways -- like Althouse's coverage was very powerful.

It would be natural, therefore, for one of those politicians to contact Althouse with an offer of tickets to the show -- so that it could reported on Althouse.

The fact that no one is telling who gave the ticket is also interesting. I can't decide what it suggests, though.

A legislator saw one of your videos that went viral and thus offered you two tickets, one of which you accepted, and somehow the identity of the legislator is confidential information that only can be shared with those who can be trusted with such confidential information?

I don't actually care who saw Walker's speech in person or not (that's what TV's for, and no need to dress up or sit captive, either) but the whole "confidential info" claim here is just weird, especially *since* it's quite true that legislators can and do give tix to anyone they please, constituents or not. Why make it all mysterious? Did the legislator ask you not to tell? If so, isn't that odd?

Wasn't Meade in Manchuria for several unexplained years? And wasn't Walker there with him, both later claiming to have been working at a secret Koch-a-Kola Chinese Bottling Plant where CO2 was produced, bottled and shipped hidden inside a sweet brown liquid ready to fizz over when the cap was pulled? I demand an answer!

I do agree that it is intriguing why it's such a top secret deal about who gave Althouse and Meade the ticket(s). I wouldn't call it odd. There are many reasons for confidentiality. I'd just like to know which one is at issue here.

Also, I agree that a case can be made that a member of a congress shouldn't be clandestinely giving out tickets to events. It sort of goes against the openness and transparency that we strive for.

Then again, sometimes you ethical issues competing against each other and you have to sort of order them and sacrifice what's less important.

A legislator saw one of your videos that went viral and thus offered you two tickets, one of which you accepted, and somehow the identity of the legislator is confidential information that only can be shared with those who can be trusted with such confidential information?

I don't actually care who saw Walker's speech in person or not (that's what TV's for, and no need to dress up or sit captive, either) but the whole "confidential info" claim here is just weird, especially *since* it's quite true that legislators can and do give tix to anyone they please, constituents or not. Why make it all mysterious? Did the legislator ask you not to tell? If so, isn't that odd?

To me the best part of the non-story was in the plethora of PayPal donations we started receiving right after the Awl post went up. Hmm. Coincidence? All through the weekend, it seems like in regular time measures of about 10 minutes, we got donations in $10 increments. I haven't added them all up yet but I'm sure, by now, the total is substantial.

Who was doing that? The donations appeared to be computer-generated. Was it the Koch brothers themselves? Governor Walker?

Also, I'm glad you came to comment because I know Ms. Althuuse is busy so instead you can tell me how you got into the assembly chamber when thousands of other Wisconsinites were denied entry to the capitol.

Even if I thought an investigator was needed here, my first choice wouldn't be some guy who seems amazed by the very idea of needing a pass to get in.

I'll bite. How is it that you and the legislator came into contact? Did you call him? Did he call you?

I dunno, but Althouse wrote clearly in her post that a legislator "offered to me", which suggests the contact was from the legislator to her. In addition, Althouse said she had to teach a class, so couldn't attend. I doubt someone with other obligations was calling around asking for tickets.

So I'll bite, did Deborah actually read Althouse comments? Did she only read Sauers comments? Can Deborah comprehend what she read?

One more thing that I think is absolutely critical: Althouse reported that at one point in Walker's speech, Walker turned to Meade and made some gesture precisely to Meade.

In my mind, that's a vital piece of information. Arguably, Walker knew Meade was going to be there. He knew where Meade was going to be sitting. We also know that Althouse likes to pepper her prose in a detective-like style. Still further, state congresspeople don't have big staffs the way, say, a governor does.

I contend that it was Walker's office that gave Althouse and Meade the ticket(s).

James, I had asked Althouse previously for her take on whether it was expected that someone in new media to disclose such things as ticket sources. In my post I quoted her:

If you want more information, you can click on the link. That's blog style. I don't spell everything out. This is new media and I do things with photos, writing, and links that many readers enjoy. Not gonna change that. If you click the link, you'll get to an enlargement of the photo, and you can read the sign. As for interviewing the man, he was on the phone when Meade was there (I was home, sick.) Meade does a lot of interviews. So do I. But it's not according to journalistic conventions. This is blogging, and I'm all about inventing and developing this writing form that is blogging. If that unsettles you... Good!

This has been my basic question, with relation to 'old' media. Would a traditional journalist be expected to disclose the source of his ticket?

As far as Clairivus, I've wondered if he's related Awl, because he claimed that Meade had trolled at other/another website(s).

Of course I clicked on it! I'd just never seen it before. I mean, who keeps track of cabbage -- besides the Irish and big fans of Corned beef? Is there a bean tag? No. Peas? No. Brocolli? No. Corn? Yes. Eggs? Yes...of course!

yes! i was drawn here by meade's peurile "defense" (turns out he didn't get a ticket from hulsey as he first implied).honestly, it wasn't that big a deal until meade got twitchy about it. as a result you now have a new troll here at althorse (see, it's cute to make fun of someone's name). fret not, i bore easily when it comes to brain-dead bullshit.

Disclosing a ticket source is not the same as disclosing an information source. The problem is the ticket being received from a public official who may benefit from a certain type of coverage to an entity that may be seen as favorably covering one side.

I'm waiting with abated breath for Sauer's scoop, complete with charts, a PPT presentation and forensic video [by the shadowy Pihc Yoha, a leading expert in all things crumbly] that Meadehouse planted the explosive charges that brought down the Capitol building that subsequently pancaked onto Michael Moore.

Or maybe it was a double stack of pancakes eaten by Michael Moore in the capitol...my tinfoil hat shifted for a second...but it was reeeeaaalllly bad.

The dastardly Duo were last seen driving Northwest...and we all know what THAT means...don't we?

See this works both ways. X isn't a big deal until a bunch sneering contemptuous people start telling you to shut the fuck up and also give them the facts about X immediately, while acting as if X is worthy of a 'Gate' suffix.

At that point, they can whistle for facts about X. Human nature old chap.

It seems logical to me that Ann is not telling, at least in part, to drive some people crazy. Not Vortex crazy but just a little bit. Having neutered ole Abe, she's still got the bait dangling and its still working.

Comrade X: Deborah got there already. And a breach of the standard doesn't necessarily mean the standard's not worthwhile.

Chickelit: Yes, it would, and properly so. And this would be nothing new. If asked how I got into an event when I was reporting, I answered (and didn't think it was weird I was asked). And when I was editing, if I asked a reporter that sort of thing, I expected an answer.

Because at one time I was in charge of stringers (as an assistant city editor), I asked that question quite a lot, among others.

"Austin: Only two things scare me, and one is nuclear war.Basil: What's the other thing that scares you?Austin: Carneys.Basil: What?Austin: Circus folk. Nomads, you know. Small hands... smell like cabbage!"

Passes — Passes are required to enter either Gallery at any time. Visitors may obtain Gallery passes from the offices of their Senators or Representatives. International visitors may inquire about Gallery passes at the House and Senate Appointment Desks on the upper level.

From my personal experience, these passes are routinely handed out to anyone who asks for them. Is the pass procedure any different in Wisconsin?

Jeez, how long are we going to have to endure the continuous nutty references to the Koch's control of the world from the leftwing loons? Just when I was getting used to being oppressed by all the Zionists ...

In both the 2001 and the 2005 inauguration, I wanted VIP parade seats for both my spouse and myself. I called before I arrived in D.C. and got the tickets from my Congressman, who just happens to be on the other side of the aisle from me.

I also managed to get tickets, secured by his office, to the two biggest balls

Seriously. Generally they get a certain number of these things and they just give them out to whoever asks until they are gone. Sheesh.

Meade is not evil like CNN that covered up truth about SH to gau-in access or Woodward who repeats the lies of his sources to protect them. The left fears the citizen journalist who speaks truth to power.

It is my impression that almost all, and maybe all tickets to political speeches are given out by politicians. And yet, I do not recall ever seeing a publication or statement by anyone as to who gave a ticket to whom.Should Anne be the first to declare such information about this particular ticket?Should all ticket recipients be required to do so on demand from lunatics?

an amusing example of the imbecilities of the current Left. the mindless indoctrination of govt schools, along with diversity training and political correctness, have left them utterly unable to do simple reasoning.

That doesn't actually address my point. Reader's saying that editors insist on knowing what reporters did to get access.

Ok.

I'm sure Meade's editor wanted to know where he got the ticket from, too. Turns out he got it FROM his editor, though, so I'm guessing that was a short conversation.

The point is, none of US know what reporters do to get access. Knowing that their editors know is about as reassuring as hearing that a manager at a brokerage firm has examined the brokers' trades and pinky-swears they were all totally legal and ethical and stuff.

There's no transparency in professional journalism. Ethical safeguards are meaningless in the absence of outside monitoring.

Gentleman Farmer wrote: I read this entire post. Then I went over to whatshisface's blog and read his post. Then I read all of the comments over there. Then I came back here and read all of the comments here.

Thirty minutes of my life I can never get back. And I'm pretty sure that I'm dumber now than I was a half-hour ago.

No no no! That's just it - there is no such thing as "unbiased reporting." There never was! We've known that for at least as long ago as when I took high school Journalism in 1970.

The whole point of New Media is that bias is assumed and, ideally - unhidden, transparent. It's also, thanks to the Web and the blogosphere, self-correcting. It's interactive between reader and reporter.

The big joke in this silly Abe Sauerkraut saga is that of course my ticket came from a sympathetic reader of the Althouse blog who had a ticket to give. There is not one thing wrong with that.

And if Abe Sauer only had an understanding of how New Media works, perhaps he would decide to stop being such a schmuck - the type who publishes private email without asking permission - and he would, himself, be offered access to events such as the Governor's Budget Address to the Wisconsin State Assembly.

But no. Abe Sauer, like every schmuck who ever was and who will ever be, will never, ever, ever, understand that. Why? Because Abe Sauer is blinded by his own bias - the bias of schmuckiness.

"The whole point of New Media is that bias is assumed and, ideally - unhidden, transparent. It's also, thanks to the Web and the blogosphere, self-correcting. It's interactive between reader and reporter."

I'm taking apart a 1980 CJ7 Jeep. When confronted with a bolt that is rusted really bad into the nut. I use my torch and heat it up and then apply bees wax to the nut. Bees wax is great at drawing into the threads. And, it doesn't catch fire. I had run out of the stuff and had to order more.